Document 8RnqZeXgqrE1nyMb0zoNDDkbe

NEW BRITAIN. CONN. HERALD c. 3?.:ss OCT 6 1976 Production halreu of chemical PCB ST. LOUIS (AP) - The pub sults,1' Harbinson said, "it k lic's fear of rising levels of came apparent that the pei polychlorinated biphenyl <PCB) sistent nature of these com In the nation's water has led pounds was being perceived by the Monsanto Industrial Chem society as a greater risk than icals Co. to hah production of that presented by using leas the chemical. fire resistant fluid in electrical Monsanto, the only maker of apparatus. "It was at this point PCB dielectric fluids in the that Monsanto made the deci U S. said Tuesday that it sion to eventually phase out planned to withdraw completely PCB production for even these from the market by Oct. 31 of sealed dielectric uses." next year. The extension of the closing , PCB, widely seen as an ideal date until late nest year was fire-resistant dielectric fluid for done to give equipment manu transformers sod capcitors, has facturers lime to coover to oth also been found to resist biode er materials. gradation, causing it to ac Other fluids offer (he dielect cumulate in the tissues of ani ric properties, Harbison said, mals and fish. but all those currently avail i "Unfortunately, the very able have less resistance to qualities that have made PCBi fire. ideal and even mandatory for Tests have been conducted oo these essential uses were also PCBs to determine if they can found in the 1970s to be proper cause cancer, Harbison said, ties causing them to persist and but studies so far have showed accumulate in the environ no indication of that. ment." said Earle H. Harbison One of the obstacles to halt Jr , general manager of Mon ing PCB equipment. Harbison santo's specialty chemicals di said, was that fire, insurance, vision. building and electrical codes The company had earlier quit and regulations in many parts making PCBs for use in car of the country have tradition bonless copy paper, fire resist ally required their use in high ant hydraulic fluids, heat trans density population applications fer fluids and plasticizers. where violent failure of a de Government tests for a three- vice containing a flammable year period discovered (hat the fluid could result in a fire or levels of PCB in major water explosion of catastrophic pro basins were not increasing and. portions. in some cases, were actually PCB-filk*d capacitor* not only decreasing Harbison said. fail infrequently, but alio fau "Despite these poiUve re safely, be said. HONS 050643